It is now possible to say conclusively that John Edwards, John Kerry, and George Bush have each spent several hours on a bus in the past two days. Millionaires riding a bus. Populist politics at its finest.

Sure lady, we'll let you see Saddam anytime you like.

"We need an American attorney," she said. "I have nothing against the American people, I know most of them did not want this war. It is your President."

Her openness, however, does not extend to American Jews. When a prominent Jewish lawyer was mentioned, she said: "You have got to understand, my father would never allow it. Never. I don't judge people, but I can't deal with Jews."

Let the daughter in the cell, then lock her in there with him.

Newsday is on top of the terror watch.

The operative, described as "credible" by British intelligence, told his debriefers that the attack would take place "60 days before the presidential election" on Nov. 2, according to a former senior National Security Council official. On Sept. 2 President George W. Bush is expected to address the Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden.

New poll compilation (finally) for the major polls taken through July 25, 2004. My own calculations give me this:

	Bush	Kerry	Nader
June 23, 2004	44.00	44.33	5.33
July 25, 2004	44.17	46.25	3.33
Post-DNC (August 10, 2004?)	?	?	?

(Sources: ABC/WP, American Research Group, AP, CBS/NYT, Christian Science Monitor, CNN, FOXNews, Gallup, LAT, Pew, Time, Zogby)

Bush picked up quarter of a point, and Kerry poached two from Nader. If the polls starting to trickle out in the last couple of days are any hint, bigger changes are on the way (in nine days, ABC/WP swung eight points to Kerry).

Shocking?

"'There is nothing right now that we're hearing that is new,' said one senior law enforcement official who was briefed on the alert. 'Why did we go to this level? . . . I still don't know that.'"

AP's humorously-named Mary Dalrymple, clearly a big softball fan, reports on Kerry's slugging prowess:

"The Massachusetts senator had just finished playing softball, where he hit two runs for the United Auto Workers team. "

CNN/Gallup/USA Today gives Bush a bounce?

"The survey showed Kerry losing 1 percentage point and Bush gaining 4 percentage points from a poll taken the week before the Boston convention."

I can understand Kerry sticking, but a four-point bump (with an MOE of +/-4) for Bush? His entire week consisted of clearing brush and falling off a bike. Damn you, Karl Rove, you bedeviling bastard!

Kerry makes a bold promise:

"Mr. Kerry said, 'I would consider it an unsuccessful policy if I hadn't brought significant numbers of troops back within the first term. And I will do that.'"

"Within the first term." Which would be "within the next four and a half years." If there are still over 100,000 American troops in Iraq even two years from now, under any administration (and I'm specifically including the administration that would be formed if Bush resigned and Cheney named Wolfowitz as his V.P.), I'll eat my hat.

This just in: former First Children are generally big giant weenies:

"Children of presidents have led armies, written bestselling books, run universities, served in the Cabinet. Eight went to Congress, seven have been ambassadors and now two have become presidents. But they have also suffered higher-than-average rates of divorce, alcoholism, suicide and premature death. I interviewed 19 of the 27 living children and they all agreed: The disadvantages outweigh the advantages."

Gee, I hope I can stop these tears of sympathy long enough to find my tiny, tiny violin.

Cruise ship for eco-tourists does its job well.

Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Roddy Corr said about 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled from the ruptured tank, as was some waste water. He said swift currents dispersed the spilled fluid before it could be cleaned up

Swift currents?!? Swift currents?? Good excuse for sleeping on the job Greenpeace!

Secret Service asks the Arizona Daily Star for the race of a staffer assigned to an upcoming rally:

Walton told Hayt that Popat's race was necessary to allow the Secret Service to distinguish her from someone else who might have the same name. "It was a very lame excuse," Hayt said.

Former Kerry family hamster comes out against stem cell research:

With any kind of research, hamsters always wind up taking it right on the chin. And we barely even have chins.